Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabred’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balcabred’ characterized by its dark red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, good basal branching character, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcabred’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcabred’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during September 2002. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive flower coloration, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 2043-2, not patented, characterized by its scarlet red-colored flowers and semi-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 1032-2, not patented, characterized by its cherry red-colored flowers and semi-upright growth habit. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during May 2003 in a controlled environment at Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since May 2003 at Elburn, Ill. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcabred’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Dark red-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;     -   3. Good basal branching character; and     -   4. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Sunbelre’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,756. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Sunbelre’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves than plants of         ‘Sunbelre’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are more compact than plants of         ‘Sunbelre’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Sunbelre’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcabred’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 11 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcabred’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of individual flowers of ‘Balcabred’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on May 31, 2005 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 11 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21° C. to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 50° F. to 58° F. (10° C. to 14° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 5,000 to 8,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa×hybrida cultivar Balcabred. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding             selection designated 2043-2, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding             selection designated 1032-2, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded-trailing.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 9.9 cm. Width: Approximately 47.5 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Approximately 11             main branches per plant, with lateral branches forming at             very node.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 23.6 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent.             Color of young stems: 144C with overlay of 187A. Color of             mature stems: 197C. Internode length at center of branch:             Approximately 1.4 cm.         -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 24.             Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement on flowering             stem: Opposite. Aspect: At acute angle to stem with apex             downward turning. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length             of mature leaf: Approximately 3.1 cm. Width of mature leaf:             Approximately 9.9 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Hirsuite. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 144B with             venation of 144C. Color of lower surface of young foliage:             Lighter than 143C with venation of 144C. Color of upper             surface of mature foliage: 137B with venation of 144C. Color             of lower surface of mature foliage: 138B with venation of             143C. Petiole length: Approximately 2.7 mm. Petiole             diameter: Approximately 1.8 mm. Petiole texture: Hirsuite.             Petiole color: 145A. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcabred’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 9.8 weeks from sticking             of unrooted cutting.         -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 5 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Simple, salverform. Quantity per plant: Approximately             57.         -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 4 to 6 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 2.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.3 mm.             Texture: Densely pubescent along veins. Color: Petals             closest to 70A, corolla tube 5D with venation of N186C.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 3.4 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture of upper surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous and densely             pubescent along veins. Upper petal length from throat:             1.5 cm. Petal length of free portion: 6.6 mm. Petal width:             Approximately 1.5 cm. Lateral and lower petal length from             throat: Approximately 1.3 cm. Color of upper surface when             fully open: Darker than N66A with midvein of 53A. Color of             lower surface when fully open: Darker than N66A with midvein             of 187A.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Tube texture inner surface: Glabrous.             Tube texture outer surface: Pubescent. Color inner surface:             13B with midvein of 187A and venation closest to 59B. Color             of outer surface: 162B with venation of 187A.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderate. Aspect: At acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 145A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 fused along lower half.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Sepal length: Approximately             1.5 cm. Sepal width: Approximately 3.2 mm. Texture of upper             and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent. Color of upper and             lower surfaces: 144B at apex and 144D at base.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 fused to             inside of corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately 2.1 cm.             Filament length of free portion: Approximately 7.5 mm.             Filament color: 145C. Anther shape: Oval, two parted. Anther             length: Approximately 0.8 mm. Anther color: 8B. Pollen             amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 8A. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: Approximately             1.4 cm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Approximately             1.0 mm. Stigma color: N144C. Style length: Approximately             1.1 cm. Style color: N144D. Ovary diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Ovary color: N144C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Calibrachoa has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabred’, substantially as herein shown and described. 